Spong iron capacity to touch 30 MTPA by 2020

New Delhi, Apr 30 (UNI) The Union Government will raise the production capacity of sponge iron to 30 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by 2020 from the current level of about 13 MTPA.

This will be done under a National Steel Policy formulated by the Government, Minister of State for Steel Akhilesh Das said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

He said the sponge iron like steel is completely a deregulated industry. Therefore, initiative on quality improvement of the product rests with the entrepreneurs.

Mr Das said sponge iron products have a strong national market where these are used in melting furnaces for further value addition. Since the sector is deregulated, the sponge iron producers are free to explore national and international market for their products.

UNI